Comments on: The Art of the Restaurant Upsell http://queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/ We're here, We're queer, and We're not going Shopping without Coupons Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:23:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kelly http://queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/comment-page-1/#comment-186053 Kelly Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:46:05 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/#comment-186053 The server offered the dish because , as you pointed out, it was an outstanding choice. The fact that the price was set as Market Price should clue any customer that is concerned about prices, to ask what the Market Price is for that item. I feel as though it is the responsibility of the guest to be sure that what they are ordering is with in thier budget. The fact that the server suggestion was expensive may or may not have been a spicific tactic to boost the tip in the end, but if I asked for a suggestion I would want to know the best choice, regardless of price. After all it is only a suggestion.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-186053">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> The server offered the dish because , as you pointed out, it was an outstanding choice. The fact that the price was set as Market Price should clue any customer that is concerned about prices, to ask what the Market Price is for that item. I feel as though it is the responsibility of the guest to be sure that what they are ordering is with in thier budget.

The fact that the server suggestion was expensive may or may not have been a spicific tactic to boost the tip in the end, but if I asked for a suggestion I would want to know the best choice, regardless of price. After all it is only a suggestion.

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]]> By: FrugalZen http://queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/comment-page-1/#comment-39790 FrugalZen Tue, 15 May 2007 03:39:59 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/#comment-39790 The fact that the menu said "Market Price" is more than enough justification for asking without seeming to be Tightwad. How much did you leave as a Tip????? If you automatically left the standard 15% of $38 would be an additional $5.70 for the Server....Good Restaurants don't generally hire Stupid Wait Staff....}:~D ~ Roland<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-39790">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> The fact that the menu said “Market Price” is more than enough justification for asking without seeming to be Tightwad.

How much did you leave as a Tip????? If you automatically left the standard 15% of $38 would be an additional $5.70 for the Server….Good Restaurants don’t generally hire Stupid Wait Staff….}:~D

~ Roland

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]]> By: Queercents » The Art of the Upsell http://queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/comment-page-1/#comment-37515 Queercents » The Art of the Upsell Thu, 03 May 2007 13:41:03 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/#comment-37515 [...] I once recited the story of a server upselling a friend on the $38 crab cakes (as an appetizer) at Houston's restaurant where the average entrée costs between $12 and $20: Their server asked if they wanted an appetizer and when they said, "Sure, what do you recommend?" The savvy server said, "We have these fabulous crab cakes that are an entrée but many people split as an appetizer." [...]<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-37515">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> [...] I once recited the story of a server upselling a friend on the $38 crab cakes (as an appetizer) at Houston’s restaurant where the average entrée costs between $12 and $20: Their server asked if they wanted an appetizer and when they said, “Sure, what do you recommend?” The savvy server said, “We have these fabulous crab cakes that are an entrée but many people split as an appetizer.” [...]

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]]> By: Alfred http://queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/comment-page-1/#comment-987 Alfred Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:12:25 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/#comment-987 Houston's is not in the 2005 Zagat Review, but did get a good mention in Bruni's blog recently for their burgers. With 38 years experience on the floor I don't think I have ever mentioned prices out of hand unless asked by the customer. If people are concerned about price they should ask. I've also worked in restaurants that hand out menus without prices, excepting the host of the party. Part of the job of a waiter is to build a relationship with the customer, what's refered to as "reading the customer". This allows the waiter to perhaps know which customers need or want pricing information. I have always been discreet when making wine recommendations, pointing out price differences on the wine list as opposed to quoting out loud for the entire table to hear. Money and pricing and how of if it affects decisions is a very private matter and should not be at the discretion of the waiter. $38 for crab cakes, they certainly must have been fablous.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-987">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Houston’s is not in the 2005 Zagat Review, but did get a good mention in Bruni’s blog recently for their burgers.

With 38 years experience on the floor I don’t think I have ever mentioned prices out of hand unless asked by the customer. If people are concerned about price they should ask. I’ve also worked in restaurants that hand out menus without prices, excepting the host of the party. Part of the job of a waiter is to build a relationship with the customer, what’s refered to as “reading the customer”. This allows the waiter to perhaps know which customers need or want pricing information. I have always been discreet when making wine recommendations, pointing out price differences on the wine list as opposed to quoting out loud for the entire table to hear.

Money and pricing and how of if it affects decisions is a very private matter and should not be at the discretion of the waiter.

$38 for crab cakes, they certainly must have been fablous.

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]]> By: Paula Gregorowicz http://queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/comment-page-1/#comment-972 Paula Gregorowicz Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:34:45 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/#comment-972 Personally, I like it when the wait staff give me a price on the specials. If they don't and I am interested, I always ask. Ever since my partner & I each had one of the "fabulous" house special salads at $11 EACH for an appetizer at a local restaurant, we ask. For $22 I could buy a hell of a lot of exotic greens and make a mean salad myself.... Love the post..I think I would've fainted at a $38 appetizer if I wasn't expecting it...<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-972">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Personally, I like it when the wait staff give me a price on the specials. If they don’t and I am interested, I always ask. Ever since my partner & I each had one of the “fabulous” house special salads at $11 EACH for an appetizer at a local restaurant, we ask. For $22 I could buy a hell of a lot of exotic greens and make a mean salad myself….

Love the post..I think I would’ve fainted at a $38 appetizer if I wasn’t expecting it…

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]]> By: Ben Hoffman http://queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/comment-page-1/#comment-969 Ben Hoffman Mon, 07 Aug 2006 03:47:45 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2006/08/04/the-art-of-the-restaurant-upsell/#comment-969 Hey, price discrimination is better than pricing people out altogether. I think the presumption is thet if you're at a place that's at all fancy and don't ask for the price, you should be prepared to pay more than the typical range. Ergo, they can get their real profits from people with cash to blow who order extra drinks, but still serve the more price-sensitive.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-969">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Hey, price discrimination is better than pricing people out altogether.

I think the presumption is thet if you’re at a place that’s at all fancy and don’t ask for the price, you should be prepared to pay more than the typical range.

Ergo, they can get their real profits from people with cash to blow who order extra drinks, but still serve the more price-sensitive.

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